DAY 58 - 59 Durham, North Carolina

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Durham was a good place to stop on my way from Asheville to Washington DC. Here I could take a break, meet an old friend and also switch from Greyhound to Amtrak. And believe me, by now I had enough of dirty stations, sarcastic Greyhound staff and busses. 

So, what is in Durham?
Firstly, it is a very pretty little city and secondly, it has a beautiful university campus (Duke University) with lots of old stone and brick buildings. Sadly the new buildings, like the one donated by Melinda Gates' family, are concrete monstrosities!! And thirdly, this is where my old friend, Ken, lives and teaches.

The university stands in large, beautiful gardens.


It is summer holidays in the US, so the campus was mainly deserted except for groups of school students visiting. I loved this row of bright blue Cape Cod style chairs against the old stone buildings. I do understand why they were not being used though: It was stinking hot! And so humid!

The story goes that the old Duke (his surname, not a title) had offered Princeton money for a new building if they would put his name on it. They refused, so he decided to then start his own university and put his name on the whole darn thing. And he used the same stone/brick to build it with! Rich people, eh?

The Duke University Chapel

Eerily quiet except for a few school groups and a few students hanging around the eateries in the student centre.

So much detail. I really do love old buildings.


Ken teaches Chemistry and is hugely involved with a community outreach program, introducing children to basic, practical science. Wish I could get my little grandies involved. They would surely love to learn about making gooey slime and snow cones using basic chemistry.

Turns out Durham also has a brewery!

Durham was also the one place I chose to stay at an AirB&B. A modern apartment in an old tobacco warehouse. Love the feeling of space and the industrial look

Did not love the size of the room.... and it was only ready at 9pm.... check-in was at 3pm. Hmmm....

Amtrak Ad! Yay.... both legs! :) From here all the way to Boston!





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